Author: Editor

Comparing traditional and contemporary commercial photography

You might still remember these memes: “Women wearing boxing gloves with business attire,” “First Day On The Internet Kid,” “Ladies Lounging (Uncomfortably) With Laptops,” “Internet Grandma Surprise.” Popularized in 2011-12, these viral memes incorporate and poke fun at obviously staged, overused stock photos. You know the kind of stock photo we’re talking about: models acting… Continue reading Comparing traditional and contemporary commercial photography

Capturing the new home hub in commercial photography

During the coronavirus pandemic, more than 70% of Americans took on home improvement projects and plan to do more in the new year, according to a survey from Bank of America. In 2020, home became more than where the heart is, and our houses and apartments became our offices, schools, gyms, and more. Although restrictions… Continue reading Capturing the new home hub in commercial photography

The photographer’s guide to copyright law

The last couple of years have been important for copyright law, and in many cases, the photo industry has been front and center. First, there was Goldman v. Breitbart News et al, then McGucken v. Newsweek, and most recently, the reopening of the Sinclair case. These headline-grabbing cases have drawn widespread public attention to the… Continue reading The photographer’s guide to copyright law

How to create a photo essay: Step-by-step guide with examples

In the 1930s, Life magazine did something radical; while most magazines of the time prioritized words, its editors published pages and pages of photographs, sometimes accompanied only by brief captions. Over the next few decades, Life’s photographers—Gordon Parks, Margaret Bourke-White, and W. Eugene Smith among them—would help pioneer a new genre known as the “photo… Continue reading How to create a photo essay: Step-by-step guide with examples

Visualizing mental health and wellbeing in Licensing

Studies suggest that mass media is one of the public’s primary sources of information about several mental health disorders, but research also shows that many of the portrayals we see are negative and stereotypical. These inaccurate depictions can have serious consequences. According to the World Health Organization, one in four of us will be affected… Continue reading Visualizing mental health and wellbeing in Licensing

Intersectional Diversity: 500px Commercial Grant Recipients

500px is committed to providing photographers with opportunities to participate in evolving trends within commercial advertising. We not only want to provide an authentic look at global experiences, but redefine representation and drive inclusivity within commercial photography. To do this, we launched the 500px Commercial Grants program to help develop content representative of evolving trends… Continue reading Intersectional Diversity: 500px Commercial Grant Recipients

Capturing versatile and authentic holiday commercial content

The holiday season is huge for brands and retailers every year, but this year, October to December might be more important than ever. Crowded, in-person Black Fridays may be a thing of the past, but a recent study reveals that more than half of Americans had already started their holiday shopping by October of this… Continue reading Capturing versatile and authentic holiday commercial content